Voting systems company Smartmatic has top execs indicted for bribery

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE VOTING TECHNOLOGY COMPANY SUING RIGHT-WING MEDIA OUTLETS OVER 2020 ELECTION COVERAGE IS NOW EMBROILED IN ITS OWN CONTROVERSY.

THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INDICTED THREE CURRENT AND FORMER EXECUTIVES FROM SMARTMATIC ON CHARGES CONNECTED TO A BRIBERY SCHEME.

PROSECUTORS SAY THE EXECUTIVES USED A SLUSH FUND TO BRIBE THE FORMER TOP ELECTION OFFICIAL IN THE PHILIPPINES– ANDY BAUTISTA– IN EXCHANGE PROVIDING VOTING MACHINES AND SERVICES FOR THE COUNTRY’S 20-16 ELECTIONS. THE ALLEGED BRIBES  AMOUNT TO AT LEAST ONE-MILLION DOLLARS.

BAUTISTA, WHO WAS INDICTED IN ANOTHER CASE IN THE U-S, IS CURRENTLY IN HIDING.

THOUGH HE RESPONDED TO THE INDICTMENT ON X– SAYING HE IS INNOCENT AND THE CHARGES ARE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED BY PHILIPPINE OFFICIALS.

SMARTMATIC RESPONDED, SAYING THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES INDICTED HAVE BEEN PLACED ON LEAVE BUT “REMAIN INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.”

THE COMPANY MAINTAINS THE INDICTMENT DOES NOT INVOLVE VOTER FRAUD AND THE BUSINESS ITSELF IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE INDICTMENT.

SMARTMATIC IS CURRENTLY SUING SEVERAL MEDIA PERSONALITES AND NEWS OUTLETS, INCLUDING FOX NEWS AND NEWSMAX.– IN A NEARLY THREE-BILLION DOLLAR DEFAMATION LAWSUIT– OVER COMMENTARY FALSELY ACCUSING THE COMPANY OF HELPING STEAL THE 2020 ELECTION FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

BOTH FOX AND NEWSMAX DENY DEFAMING ANYONE AND ARGUE THEIR ELECTION COVERAGE IS COVERED UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

WHILE THE MEDIA OUTLETS DIDN’T RESPOND TO THIS LATEST INDICTMENT– LAWYERS FOR FOX NEWS AND NEWSMAX PREVIOUSLY SAID DURING THE CRIMINAL PROBE BY THE D-O-J– PROSECUTION AGAINST TOP SMARTMATIC EXECUTIVES WOULD HARM THE COMPANY’S PUBLIC REPUTATION.

AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR SMARTMATIC TO CLAIM IT IS SOLELY DAMAGED BY FALSE ACCUSATIONS DURING THE ELECTION.

THE NEWSMAX-SMARTMATIC TRIAL IS SET FOR NEXT MONTH.

SMARTMATIC’S CASE AGAINST FOX ISN’T EXPECTED TO BEGIN UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

FOR MORE ON THIS INDICTMENT AND UPCOMING CASES– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.